204 



THE GRASSES OF TENNESSEE. 



tect the roots during winter, and no more planting will be 

 necessary for several years, as the roots are perennial. 

 They are fleshy tubers and will be quickly eaten up by hogs 

 if they are allowed to get to them. The plant is a very 

 promising one for green soiling, and a citizen of a village or 

 town having a small lot may be able to supply a horse or 

 cow with green forage through the whole summer. It has 

 never before been recommended as a forage plant, and 

 should any one interested in this account wish to test it, v 

 seed doubtless can be procured from 

 the Agricultural Bureau at Washington, 

 D. C. 



RIBBON GR ASS.-(Phalaris arundinacea.) 



Panicle very slightly clustered, somewhat spread- 

 ing when old; glumes wingless, rudimentary florets, 

 hairy; stem round, smooth, erect, from two to 

 seven feet high; leaves five or six in number, broad, 

 lightish green, acute, harsh, flat-ribbed, central 

 rib most prominent on highlands, with white stripe 

 down centre, solid green on wet lands, roughish 

 on both surfaces, edges minutely toothed; smooth, 

 striated sheaths. 



This grass is exceedingly hardy and 

 showy, but is of but little value as a hay 

 or pasture grass. It is raised in almost 

 every garden, on account of its beautiful 

 foliage. It is called also Fortune grass. 

 Hon. John Stanton Gould says of this 

 grass : 



" Its roots interlace very closely, and 

 after a few years swamps are so com- 

 plely covered with them as to bear a 

 wagon and horses without breaking 

 through. It is also very useful in pro- 

 tecting river banks, but in narrow brooks 

 it is apt to fill up the channel and thus 



